This will be the last Member Update of the 2024-25 school year. We will return on August 11, 2025. Have a great summer!
State Articles of Interest
ACPS announces new partnership with NOVA for Health Sciences Academy | ALXnow
Youngkin issues executive order to combat antisemitism in Virginia schools
RPS aims to get more licensed teachers in classrooms
VBCPS superintendent weighs in on recent suspension of DEI policies
Record number of students complete Chesterfield Recovery Academy
Full-time online learning for Virginia Beach 6-12 graders | WAVY.com
National Articles of Interest
3 things to know from Linda McMahon’s FY 2026 testimony | K-12 Dive
California agrees to include religious schools as special education placements | K-12 Dive
Despite growth, average teacher salaries lag behind inflation | K-12 Dive
Specialized charter schools need to ensure inclusive practices, report says | K-12 Dive
DOE Updates
“Before, During, and After Crisis Management” Training Opportunity
Article: 2025-20-268
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Childcare Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, Crisis Management Team Members
Contact: Center for School and Campus Safety and Crisis Management Supervisor, Shellie Evers, Shellie.Evers@dcjs.virginia.gov, (804) 629-7042?
Provided by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety, this training offers division and school administrators, emergency managers, crisis team members, and school security staff unique opportunities to collaborate with first responders and subject matter experts to enhance existing plans just in time for the August 31 annual Crisis Management Plan certification and the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Attendees will gain a unified understanding of current best practices, implications of new legislation, and develop the tools needed to address questions that may arise when discussing potential crises in schools.
Three opportunities are offered to participate:
- June 2, 2025: King William High School, 80 Cavalier Drive, King William, VA 23086
- June 3, 2025: Petersburg High School, 3101 Johnson Road, Petersburg, VA 23805
- June 4, 2025: Russell County Government Center, 139 Highland Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266
Additional information and registration links can be located on the “Before, During, and After All Hazards Crisis Planning for Schools” webpage.
Planning for Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) 4-8 Implementation
Article: 2025-20-262
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English & Literacy, Jill.Nogueras@doe.virginia.gov
As divisions are planning for the 2025-2026 school year, and year two of VLA implementation to include the legislative expansion through grade eight, the Virginia Department of Education will continue to provide updates regarding pertinent information for Grades 4-8. As additional decisions are made, information will be shared with the field.?
To date, the following information can be utilized by divisions to plan for VLA 4-8 implementation: ?
- Students who score in the basic or below basic range on the end of year Standards of Learning assessment for reading (grades 3-7 in the current school year) will be screened using the VALLSS 4-8 screener in the fall of the following school year. These students will also have individual student reading plans to support their literacy intervention and development.
- Teachers may administer VALLSS: 4-8 to students who are not required to participate. The decision to administer VALLSS: 4-8 to students who are not required to participate will be a school level decision. Parents may also request that their child be screened, regardless of the student’s SOL score.
- In grades 4-8, local school divisions may determine how schools meet the additional instruction time for intervention. There is not a time requirement for intervention instruction as there is with grades kindergarten through grade three through the Early Intervention Reading Initiative. Local intervention decisions will depend on the master schedule, staffing, resources available, and individual student’s needs. School divisions have flexibility and can use a combination of any of the options included below to ensure that students receive literacy intervention. This is an opportunity for middle school grade level teams to collaborate and determine the best interventions and supports for students.?Intervention may include the following services for the student:
- instruction from a reading specialist, trained aide, computer-based reading tutorial program, or classroom teacher with support from an aide,????
- extended instructional time in the school day or school year,???
- an additional literacy course, outside of the required SOL English course, that provides the specific evidence-based literacy instruction identified in the student’s reading plan (optional for grades 6-8).?
- Intervention materials for grades K-8 must be selected from the Board Approved Intervention List for K-5 and the Board Approved Intervention List for Grades 6-8.?
- Any student who receives intervention services will require a Student Reading Plan (SRP). The SRP for grades 4-8 is currently in development, however, like the SRP template for grades K-3, the plan will target the specific needs of the student.
? - A reading specialist, in collaboration with the teacher of any student who receives reading intervention services, shall develop, oversee implementation of, and monitor student progress on a student reading plan.??School divisions may employ certified reading specialists or educators who have successfully completed the Reading Specialist microcredential course and received the add-on endorsement. Any add-on endorsement that results from completion of such microcredential program shall be provisional for a period of five years.
- Reading specialists are SOQ funded. Division literacy leaders should collaborate with division finance personnel to determine how many reading specialists are allocated at the secondary level to meet the 1:1100 requirement of the Virginia Literacy Act.?
- Local school divisions may establish additional communication and protocols regarding division-level decisions around participation in the?VALLSS Screener, Student Reading Plan, or intervention services. Parents may opt their student out of these services.
- Updated Biennial Division Literacy Plans are due June 30, 2025. Divisions will need to identify selected supplemental and intervention materials for Grade 6-8. Additionally, divisions will update their plans to include communication planning, training, monitoring student progress, assessing division level progress, and engaging parents, caregivers, and community in grades K-8.? ??
Divisions should send any questions to vla@doe.virginia.gov for consideration and to share as more information as it becomes available.
